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Apologies for my absence but I was traveling for work last week and it left me absolutely wiped.

However, I needed to take the time to write about this past weekend as I’m so proud of someone! A friend of mine’s baby sister ran her first 5k last Sunday!!!

We all signed up to run a 5k fundraiser for make a wish foundation and even though she is not someone who considers herself a runner she jumped in for the challenge enthusiastically. She may have been incredibly nervous, and may have needed to borrow a sports bra and scrounge around for some old runners in her sister’s basement…but she did it! (In 33 minutes no less – a great first time!!)

All 5 of us finished in the top 27 and after worrying about not having pushed my pace enough lately I managed to shave a whole minute off of my time last year! I’m proud of all of us and super pumped for our 10k next month (25 days to be exact).

I hope you all get out there and take a page from my friends little sis’ book…try something new and active. Who knows you just may end up loving it!!

Today I had a last minute meeting with execs thrown my way because my boss was sick. Also, this meeting was scheduled even after my normal work hours…but being me and relatively ambitious I pounced on the opportunity to have my boss gain more confidence in me – I accepted in an instant.

This is when I realized that the saying is true…there will never be time for exercise unless you MAKE TIME. I was thinking how I’d never get in my gym/run time when I realized I could fit in a Zumba class at lunch. Now I know Zumba isn’t always the most epically challenging of fitness classes, but it was better than nothing…and surprise! She snuck in a whole song of wall sits.

So, folks what is your excuse? I worked 2 hours OT today before even thinking of being off and still got my sweat on, you can do it!!!

This past week I have been reading two amazing books that have really motivated me and changed my perspective on running.

I am generally very self-competitive (which is why running is great), but it can tend to get me a bit down if I have a slow run or just miss a new personal best. After reading “Born to Run” and (in the midst of) “Eat & Run” I have been inspired! Now don’t get me wrong, both of these books are about ultramarathoners (although very different perspectives), I do not intend to start running 50 or 100 mile races…in fact, I’m not even sure I’ll ever run a marathon – or even survive the 1/2 I am registered for in September. BUT both of these books focus on the zen/meditation feeling that one can get from running when we stop focusing on time and just listen to our own bodies and relish in the fact that we are strong and capable.

On Monday completed my longest run since last summer – 13km. Although it wont break any records and my pace was slower than when I do my 5 or 10k runs I felt great! Usually if I encounter a change in plans for my run I get frustrated thinking about how my pace will be effected. This time I encountered a surprise patch of leftover snow…and when I say patch I mean like 1-2km…but instead of grumbling I just focused on short strides and every step as it happened. It felt amazing! I am hopeful that I can tap into this feeling on future runs as it was very relaxing and exhilarating all at the same time.

Also, I have a friend who recently started running even though she generally thinks of herself as someone who “hates exercise”…two weeks in and I think she might be a little addicted! She has 8 runs in already this month and is going strong…I have no doubt she will be on my tail…and then passing me in no time! So feel inspired people, no matter what you think your feelings are on exercise or how afraid of your own fitness level you are get out there!!! No matter how slow or short your run, you are still lapping everyone on the couch!!!

I would love to hear about any books or movies you have read/seen that have changed your way of looking at health or fitness…these are the two I mentioned above. 🙂

I have always been one of those people who firmly believes that a vacation should mean relaxing in every way possible – no calorie counting, stressing about hitting the weights, etc. However, as I’ve come to really enjoy running (and how I feel afterwards) I decided it might be time to start incorporating running and/or other exercise into my vacations.

This past Christmas I was lucky enough to go to the Dominican with my boyfriend and his family and I managed to get a few short runs in on the beach along with some beach yoga. It reminded me that, for all those days at home that I force myself to slog my way to the gym or through a mandatory few kilometres to make sure that dessert doesn’t stay put, there are still a few days that I absolutely love getting active. I have discovered that vacation can be a great way to remind yourself that sometimes you exercise because you want to and not because you have an event coming up or you ate an entire meat lovers pizza over the weekend.

This past long weekend my boyfriend and I made the long (12-13 hour) drive home to see my family that live a few provinces away. After being cooped up in the car for so long I couldn’t wait to roll out of bed the first morning and hit the ground running…literally. While everyone was still asleep and frost was still on the grass I started a leisurely 5k through an area where I grew up playing with friends. There were so many more hills than the flat Rideau canal I’m used to running, and yet it felt amazing! For once, I didn’t check my pace or stress about a finish time. I just enjoyed the feeling of running, hitting the sweet spot in rhythm between your feet hitting the pavement and your controlled breathing…and because my mom lives in a very small community (and I was running on the first morning of a long weekend) I managed to sing a few songs at the top of my lungs since no one was around – something I definitely can’t get away with in Ottawa.

While I was home I managed to get a few more days of exercise in and it felt great! I came back from vacation just as refreshed as ever and with a renewed sense of enjoyment for what had become a bit of a chore…I still didn’t count calories though 😉